Saul
A Benjaminite anointed by Samuel as Israel’s first king. He won early victories but, according to the books of Samuel, was rejected for disobedience, turned against David, and died fighting the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.
Saul, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, was anointed by Samuel and made king before the people at Mizpah and at Gilgal (1 Samuel 9:1–2) (1 Samuel 10:1, 24) (1 Samuel 11:15). He relieved Jabesh-gilead and fought the Philistines and the neighbouring peoples throughout his reign (1 Samuel 11:11) (1 Samuel 14:47–52). Samuel twice told him that he had lost the kingdom, first for offering sacrifice himself and then for sparing the king and the spoil of Amalek (1 Samuel 13:13–14) (1 Samuel 15:26–28).
He took David into his service, grew jealous of him, tried to have him killed and hunted him in the wilderness (1 Samuel 18:8–11) (1 Samuel 19:1) (1 Samuel 24:1–2). Before his last battle he consulted a medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7–19). He died with three of his sons on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1–6), and David made a lament for him (2 Samuel 1:17–27). The sources do not agree on how long he reigned, and his dates are approximate; see Saul Becomes Israel’s First King.
In the timeline
- about 1050 BC, traditional dateSaul Becomes Israel’s First King
Israel’s elders ask the aged Samuel for a king “like all the nations”. Samuel warns them, then anoints Saul of Benjamin, who is chosen by lot at Mizpah and made king at Gilgal. Saul is later rejected for disobedience.
- about 1025 BC, traditional dateDavid and Goliath
Samuel anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem. In the valley of Elah the young shepherd kills the Philistine champion Goliath with a sling and a stone, and his fame turns King Saul against him.
- about 1010 BC to 1003 BC, estimated dateDavid Becomes King
After Saul dies in battle on Mount Gilboa, the men of Judah anoint David king at Hebron. Seven and a half years later, when the war with Saul’s house is over, the elders of all Israel anoint him king over the whole nation.